POLL 7 in 10 Koreans back prosecutorial, judicial reforms led by new president

The Korean prosecution service logo is seen on a door at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in southern Seoul's Seocho District, Thursday. Yonhap

Nearly seven in 10 Koreans support prosecutorial and judicial reforms spearheaded by newly elected President Lee Jae-myung, according to a poll commissioned by The Korea Times.

The survey found that 67 percent of respondents believe in the necessity of the reforms the president has pledged to implement in the country’s prosecution service and judicial system, while 31 percent consider them unnecessary.

Graphics by The Korea Times

In particular, an overwhelming 90 percent of respondents who identified as liberals expressed support for the reforms. Among self-identified centrists, 68 percent also regarded the changes as necessary.

Similarly, 92 percent of those who said they support the ruling liberal Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) believed the reforms are essential, with only 7 percent opposing them.

Those on the opposite side of the ideological spectrum held opposing views.

Sixty-five percent of those who support the conservative People Power Party and 58 percent of supporters of the minor conservative Reform Party said prosecutorial and judicial reforms are unnecessary.

Graphics by The Korea Times

Prosecutorial and judicial reform has long been a source of political controversy between rival parties.

During his presidential campaign, Lee vocally advocated stripping the prosecution of its investigative powers, leaving it with only the authority to indict. He also proposed measures to ensure the prosecution’s political neutrality by enhancing judicial reviews of potential abuses of indictment powers and introducing a system to dismiss prosecutors.

The proposal aligns with prosecutorial reforms initiated during the previous Moon Jae-in administration under the DPK, many of which were partially nullified or vetoed by former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who previously served as prosecutor general.

As he pledged in his campaign, Lee has also taken steps toward judicial reform, including plans to increase the number of Supreme Court justices, which he says will enhance the fairness and transparency of the judicial system.

By raising the number of justices from 14 to 30 over the next four years, the reform is intended to incorporate more diverse perspectives and ease the heavy caseload shouldered by current justices, who each handle roughly 4,000 cases annually.

The Supreme Court's logo stands at the entrance of the court in Seocho District, southern Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap

However, critics have raised concerns that the proposed expansion could hinder the Supreme Court’s independence and ability to reach full bench rulings and undermine its role as a high court tasked with ensuring legal stability and resolving social conflicts.

The debate unfolds as the president faces significant legal challenges, such as five criminal trials involving 12 charges, which include allegations of bribery and involvement in a property development scandal.

While questions persist over whether the trials will move forward during his presidency given his claim to immunity, Lee has rejected all allegations, asserting the trials are politically driven against him.

The Supreme Court noted that the decision on whether the trials will proceed ultimately rests with the individual judges presiding over each case, following a consensus among courts to postpone further hearings until after the election.

The Korea Times commissioned the survey to gauge public sentiment. Hankook Research surveyed 1,000 adults nationwide in phone interviews on Wednesday and Thursday. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, with a credibility rate of 95 percent. Further details are available on the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission’s website.